Seddon sets up mental health hotline for staff

Seddon has set up a mental health hotline for its 700 employees following the tragic suicide of one of its young workers.

Jordan Bibby  was just 25 when he took his own life last September.

The painter and decorator was a valued member of the Seddon property services team and his death came as a shock to family, friends and colleagues.

Jordan’s mum, Melanie, said: “No one had any idea that Jordan was suffering.  If he would have reached out to any of us we would have helped him get the support he needed.

We would have got him through it, we always did, we always made sure he was OK, and for the most part he was.

“I think there was just one moment where he couldn’t see a way forward and he made a decision and it’s the one thing that we can’t fix.

“I would give anything to get him back, my own life for his, but I know that’s not possible.  What I can do is share our story, talk about it and let other people know that, in their darkest moments, there is always someone willing to listen and help.”

Seddon has now launched its ‘Jordan’s Conversation’ mental health and wellbeing initiative across live construction sites and offices.

Talks will discuss how employees can recognise and seek help for their own mental health issues as well as how to spot if a colleague may require support.

All 700 employees will be involved as well as the 400 subcontractor team members on the company’s sites.

Seddon has also set up a comprehensive employee assistance programme, run by employer insurer Aviva – Care First, to provide support services through crisis and access to counselling with a 24 hour confidential external hotline.

Melanie said: “Jordan’s Conversation is such a vital initiative; I felt I had no option but to get involved, to help; it’s what Jordan would have wanted.

“We need to get men especially to open up about how they feel.  We need to let them know that no one is bullet proof and that it’s OK to need help and we need to encourage them to reach out for support.

“I don’t want anyone to ever feel like Jordan must have felt, like they couldn’t carry on.

“If Jordan had reached out a thousand hands would have held him so tightly and only lessened the hold when he was strong enough to stand again. Make Jordan matter, make his life bring a difference.

“No one is alone, please speak out.”

Nicola Hodkinson, director of business services at Seddon said: “We’re a business with family values at its core and our people are very important to us so news of Jordan’s death last year deeply affected all of the team here.

“Since that tragic event, we have thought long and hard about how we can create an environment where our people feel able to speak out if they are suffering and how to ensure everyone in the business looks out for each other’s mental wellbeing.

“Poor mental health is on everyone’s agenda but as a male dominated industry we are more susceptible than most.

“Jordan’s Conversation is a key first step in our mission to achieve our aim and the start of a much more open and supportive approach to mental health at all levels of the business.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/05/17/seddon-sets-up-mental-health-hotline-for-staff/

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